The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is working with stakeholders to have the ban on vegetable exports to the European Union lifted in the next three months. That’s the assurance from the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Afriyie Akoto.
The ban was imposed on some vegetables exported to the EU as a result of the failure of exporters to meet international quality standards.
The ban was placed by the food and veterinary Office of the European Commission for some vegetables mainly pepper, eggplant, and gourds. This was attributed to several interceptions due to the presence of harmful organisms in exported produce.
The ban was until December 2016 but has been further extended to December 2017.
A team from the EU is however due to visit the country in Sepetmber for an assessment towards a possible review of the ban and Dr Akoto Afriyie is confident the country will pass the test for the ban to be lifted.
He said “The European Union has come up with certain conditions based on which the ban will be lifted. So we are making sure that the actions will be taken. In addition to that we are taking steps to comply with the EU regulations and also trying to restructure our own internal arrangements as well as getting the right personnel manning activities at the ports of entry and in the various regions.
So I’m very confident that with all the work we’ve done so far in collaboration with the stakeholders we are prepared now to receive the delegation from the EU to audit in September so that the ban can be lifted and enable business to go on”.
Dr Afriyie Akoto also blamed the ban on the negligence of some stakeholders and advices that all play their role to reverse the ban.
Latest Stories
-
Atta Akyea unenthused with ECG over refusal to release timetable
6 mins -
Bawumia mobbed in Ejisu at John Kumah’s one week funeral observance
16 mins -
We have a stable national grid; outages due to localised faults – ECG
1 hour -
Easter celebration: Ghana AIDS Commission to distribute free condoms in Kwahu
1 hour -
Zeepay secures additional $3m from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund
2 hours -
Over 70% of power outages were due to planned maintenance works – ECG to PURC
2 hours -
Access Bank partners Horseman Shoes to boost local shoe manufacturing industry
2 hours -
Election 2024: Don’t vote for candidates making empty promises – CDD to Ghanaians
2 hours -
IGP shares Easter safety tips on Adom FM’s ‘Ofie Kwanso’
2 hours -
Ebo Whyte offers fully-funded trip as he unveils new play ‘Dubai or No Sex’
2 hours -
Ancient culture of Anlo Kingdom: Exploring “Torkor Atorlia,” the fifth landing stage’s old ways of punishment
3 hours -
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon and Sierra Leone to lead discussions at Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) 4th Country & Stakeholder Symposium
3 hours -
Network International Delivers Strong 2023 Revenue growth at 15% y/y and free cashflow growth of 16% y/y
3 hours -
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
3 hours -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
4 hours